Stephen Rooney was born and raised in New Orleans. He has received a BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has also attended the University of Minnesota's Fine Arts Program and The Art Students League of New York. Rooney's current works are reflections of tugboats on the Mississippi River in Holy Cross, Lower Ninth Ward. 

Describe your art in three words.

Interpretations of Feeling 

Describe yourself in one word.

Listener 

What do you love the most about creating art in New Orleans? What particular part of your immediate environment, in your neighborhood specifically influences your work?

The heat and humidity in South Louisiana allows mosquitos and termites to thrive here in the summer. However, the humidity is ideal for the growth of tropical plants such as gingers, tibouchina, staghorn ferns, birds of paradise and philodendrons.  Once you can begin to tolerate the heat, you can start to find to beauty that it brings to our landscape.

I love living in New Orleans. 

Describe your creative process. Are there any rituals or rites of passage you exercise before you begin a new piece?

My medium is oil paint. I tend mix my paint slowly and work with it quickly, wet into wet. 

Where do you draw inspiration?

I am very inspired by this city, I am especially inspired by the landscape here. 

Who are your artistic influences or gurus?

Charles Burchfield, Matthew Wong, Arthur Dove, David Hockney, Nicole Eisenman, Lisa Sanditz

In New Orleans, art and music go hand in hand. What type of music, band or song lyric best describes your work?

Little Freddie King and Lil Wayne 

Where can we find you when you are not creating art?

Gardening, painting my house or walking my dogs with my wife in Holy Cross, Lower Ninth Ward. 

What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?

April is an ideal time to be in New Orleans. This is when you will see many native blooms, such as irises, magnolia, azaleas and jasmine. Jazz Fest is also in April!

What is something people don’t know about you? A fun fact.

I know how to find and patch a leak in a roof. 

All works listed online are available to be viewed at Where Y’Art Gallery by appointment.

Please allow 7-14 days shipping for standard orders. All packages are shipped within the Continental United States through the USPS via Priority Mail with Tracking and Insurance.

For international shipping prices, rush orders or commissions, please log in and send me a private message through the messaging tool on my profile page.